Apparatus for producing fibres from melts

ABSTRACT

In the apparatus a cross partition serving as a heater and dividing the working chamber into a melting and a feeding zone has an upwardly convex shape, which together with an additional heater ensures intensification of the material melting process and the process of melt homogenization. This in turn permits a sharp increase in process efficiency and a reduction in the size of the structure.

United States Patent [191 Shule et al. '7

' APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FIBRES FROM MELTS [22] Filed: July 19, 1971[21] Appl. N01: 163,752

11] 3,765,852 [451 Oct. 16, 1973 [52] U.S. Cl 65/1, 65/135, 65/136,65/347, 13/6, 425/66 [51] Int. Cl C03b 37/02 [58] Field of Search 65/1,2, 11 R, ll W, 65/113, 135, 343, 136; 13/6; 425/66 7 [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,465,283 3/l949 Scl'llehr 65/1 3,485,85110/ l 949 Stevens 3,248,191 4/1966 Canfield 3,479,167 11/1969 Ashman65/] Primary Examiner-Robert L. Lindsay, Jr. Attorney-Holman & Stern [57] ABSTRACT In the apparatus a cross partition serving as a heater anddividing the working chamber into a melting and a feeding zone has anupwardly convex shape, which together with an additional heater ensuresintensification of the material melting process and the process of melthomogenization. This in turn permits a sharp increase in processefficiency and a reduction in the size of the structure.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FEERIES FROM MELTSThe present invention relates to the manufacture of fibres from melts ofthermoplastic materials, and more specifically to apparatus forproducing fibres from the melts of such materials as glass, slags,minerals, etc.

Known in the art are apparatus for producing fibres from molten glass,wherein heating elements placed inside the housing are disposed so as toform a cross partition which divides the chamber into an upper meltingzone, and lower feeding zone. The partitions have heretofore been madeplane or convex downwardly.

For the melt penetration from the upper melting zone into the lowerfeeding zone, perforations are made in the partition (see, for example,US Pats. Nos. 3,013,095; 3,013,096; cl. 65-4, and 3,028,442, cl. 13-6).

The main disadvantage of the conventional apparatus for producing saidfibres is the insufficient intensity of the glass melting process, aswell as of the melt homogenation and degassing.

As far as we are aware, a certain increase in the process intensity hasbeen achieved through enlarging the volume of the apparatus structure.As is known, this significantly (not less than 1.5 times) raises theconsumption of the platinum-rhodium alloy wherefrom such apparatus aremade; in addition, the enlargement of the apparatus also involves asharp increase in the electric power consumption.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the disadvantages ofthe conventional apparatus for producing fibres from melts.

Another object of the invention is to provide maximum heating of themelt surface layers in the feeding zone of the chamber, and to developin these surface layers upward degassing and homogenizing melt flows.

With these objects in view, in an apparatus to produce fibres frommolten thermoplastic materials wherein inside the working chamber thereis placed a heating element made and disposed so as to form a crosspartition having perforations for the melt penetration, according to theinvention, the partition formed by the heater has an upwardly convexshape, and at least one additional heater is located under the latterpartition.

Such a design rules out formation over the partition of any significantlayer of the glass melt between the partition-heater and the remainingunmelted glass.

To provide optimum conditions for the melt degassing and homogenationthe partition perforations most preferably are installed in the lowerlying portions thereof.

When the perforations are disposed as described above, it is preferableto establish netted elements under the partition opposite theperforations.

Following is a detailed description of the invention in a particularembodiment thereof with references to the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows the apparatus for producing fibres from moltenthermoplastic materials, in a section;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along line 11-11 in H6. 1.

The apparatus comprises a housing 11 whose walls are heated by means ofcurrent conductors 2; mounted inside the chamber formed by housing 1 isa heater 3 made as a cross partition separating the chamber into anupper melting zone t and a lower feeding zone 5.

Perforations 6 for the melt penetration are made in the lower portionsof the partition.

Under the partition-heater 3 one additional plate heater 7 is mountedalong the apparatus under the highest portion of the partition. Theinner heaters 3 and 7 are fed from the same current conductors 2.

The partition can also be made perforated all over its surface. In thiscase it is advisable to make the partition netted. Perforations 6 in thefirst-mentioned embodiment are made only along the lower edges of thepartition, and they should naturally be wider as compared to the casewhen the partition is perforated all over its surface, so that theoverflowing of the melt into the lower zone 5 of the chamber may beintensive enough. Disposition of the perforations along said edges ofthe partition enables maximum possible heating of the melt surface layerin chamber 5 to be generated by heater in the latter case, placed ratheradvantageously opposite perforations 6 below the partition should benetted elements 8 to provide for homogenation of the melt issuing fromperforations 6.

Any thermoplastic material can be used for manufacturing fibres, such asglass, slags, minerals, etc.

The thermoplastic material in the form of lumps, grains, etc. iscontinuously supplied into the upper, i.e., melting, zone 4 of thechamber of the apparatus. Upon contacting the heated walls of thehousing and the heater 3 the material melts, its melt overflowingthrough perforations 6 into the lower zone 5 of the chamber. Havingissued from perforations 6 the melt then passes through the nettedelements 8 being thereby homogenized.

Since heater 3 has the form of an upwardly convex partition, the meltactively flows down the surface of heater 3, thus the beads of theunmelted glass are always practically in direct contact with heater 3.This intensifies the material melting process. Also, due to the convexshape of the partition the melt passing through the perforations flowsdown its inner surface in a thin layer from the centre to the periphery.Thus, the melt flows to the high-temperature zone in thin layers, andthe volume of the lower part 5 of the chamber is filled with melt fromthe periphery.

As a result, optimum conditions are provided for overheating the meltsurface layers, thus forming upward flows which intensify the process ofthe melt homogenation. Then the melt enters orifices 9 and issuestherefrom in jets to be formed into fibres.

Due to the above-described design of the apparatus resulting anintensified process of glass melting and melt homogenation, maximumefficiency can be achieved with the size of the apparatus being 1.5times less than conventional apparatus.

What we claim is:

1. An apparatus for producing fibres from molten thermoplasticmaterials, comprising: a housing; a heater in said housing disposed soas to form an upwardly convex cross partition; perforations in saidcross partition serving to let through the melt; at least one additionalheater located below said partition; and orifices arranged in the lowerpart of the housing and serving to form the fibres.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said perforations in saidpartition are located in its lower portions.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein located below said partitionopposite said perforations are netted elements.

1. An apparatus for producing fibres from molten thermoplasticmaterials, comprising: a housing; a heater in said housing disposed soas to form an upwardly convex cross partition; perforations in saidcross partition serving to let through the melt; at least one additionalheater located below said partition; and orifices arranged in the lowerpart of the houSing and serving to form the fibres.
 2. An apparatus asin claim 1, wherein said perforations in said partition are located inits lower portions.
 3. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein located belowsaid partition opposite said perforations are netted elements.